Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's right deltoid region scar, sinusitis, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The right deltoid region scar is rated at 10 percent effective September 28, 2024. The initial compensable rating for sinusitis has been granted with an effective date of May 20, 2023. The initial 70 percent rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted with an effective date of May 20, 2024.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder was denied, and the TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions and a rating for hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, sinusitis, acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee scar, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss are all being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, multiple myeloma, colon cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is not conceded, but his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune may be relevant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and sleep apnea due to inadequate examinations and potential exposure to toxic substances during military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity during the period on appeal. The disability was rated at 50 percent, but not higher.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there was no verifiable stressor and insufficient supporting evidence of claimed in-service trauma. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection must be remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically regarding the Veteran's reported toxic exposure risk activities (TERA). The AOJ is instructed to investigate and confirm these TERA, and then schedule the Veteran for new examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with a new examination focusing on whether his current psychiatric condition is 'but-for' caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, mood disorders, depressive disorders, personality disorders, and cognitive disorders. The Veteran's claims were based on the presumption of soundness at entry into service but failed to meet the criteria due to lack of preexisting conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as Adjustment Disorder and claimed as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) is rated at 70 percent. The effective date for this rating is July 13, 2010.

The Veteran's heart disability and HTN are granted as they are presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,ED is granted as it is causally related to the service-connected HTN.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and psychiatric disorder (including PTSD with substance abuse) due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressor and a need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychological disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The claims for sleep apnea, ear pain, and cough/shortness of breath are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding symptom onset and course.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand disability, speech disability, and disability manifested by memory loss (other than psychiatric disability and sleep apnea) due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities at any time during or approximate to the pendency of his claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety and schizophrenia) and a left knee disorder were denied. The appeals are dismissed due to the Veteran's failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's widow, A.Y.G., was awarded an earlier effective date for service connection of April 19, 2018. The AOJ found that N.M.W. (the Veteran's attorney) was entitled to attorney fees based on this change in the effective date. However, N.M.W. withdrew his appeal after receiving a corrected decision.

Service connection for a psychiatric disorder is granted. Entitlement to an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for COPD is dismissed due to the Veteran being in receipt of the maximum available rating, 100 percent, for the entire period of service connection. Service connection for a back condition is remanded.